Ever wondered what it’s like for a reporter to travel to a road game?

Me too.

As a freelancer covering high school and college sports for the first 15 years of my career, hopping on a flight and covering the Patriots in any game – let alone the AFC Championship – was always a pipe dream. Until now.

Also, for the record, John and I have both gone to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That doesn’t count. It’s New Jersey.

At nearly 38 years old, I boarded a Southwest flight for the first time solo at 5:35 on Saturday morning to make my way out to Denver. After telling NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry earlier this week that it was in fact my first solo road trip, I thought he was joking when he said I should write about it. Then, I thought about it and realized it’s a sneaky great idea.

So, for the next 24-48 hours, I’ll be updating this as much as possible with nuggets, observations, stories, really anything I encounter. Hope you enjoy!

3:35 a.m. – Uber pickup at my apartment in Waltham. It’s cold as balls out.

3:58 a.m. – Ken (the Uber driver) flew into town doing like 80 through the empty streets. I immediately get lost trying to figure out where to go after arriving at Terminal B. Great start.

4:10 a.m. – Found the right gate. Immediately think ‘this place needs a casino’ as I’m now looking for ways to blow some money and kill two hours. Starbucks line is absurdly long, thankfully I’m a Dunks guy. Sausage on a croissant (no egg, no cheese, it’s weird, I know). Medium Carmel iced, skim milk and one sugar. Now we’re good to go.

4:30 a.m. – Run into Steve Watson, a legend when it comes to Milford (MA) American Legion Baseball and Milford football PA announcer. Him and a few others (along with a ton of other Pats fans) are decked out in team gear and Drake Maye jerseys.

5:00 a.m. – Spot Kayla Burton at our gate, immediately ask her how she’s alive based on doing Celtics Postgame Live following a big OT win over Brooklyn. One of the nicest, best humans I’ve ever met covering sports. Steve (her father) is obviously a legend and is also one of the best folks I’ve met since covering the Pats.

5:35 a.m. – Begin boarding. Luckily, I’m group A and end up grabbing a window seat in the last row. It’s a jam-packed flight. Again, ton of Pats fans.

6:15 a.m. – Takeoff, only about 10 minutes later than the initial 6:05 scheduled takeoff. Sunrise view is legitimately stunning leaving Boston.

7:30-8:01 a.m. – First bathroom break. Sitting in the back row was genius on my part. Feel bad for making the other two in my row move, but it is what it is, better than walking full length of the plane. The guy next to me is going full raw dog on this flight too. No book. No laptop. No headphones. Southwest doesn’t have screens. Wild, wild move for a 5 hour flight.

8:04 a.m. – Obsessed with the live flight tracker, but it’s like a kid staring at the clock waiting to go downstairs for Christmas, but your parents told you not until 6 a.m. Still 3 hours left.

10:00 a.m. – (MT from this point on for reading purposes)…The end is in sight, picturing old school Oregon Trail game in my head saying/writing that.  Flying over Nebraska feels like driving in Western, MA…only in the air. Whole lot of nothing.

10:20 a.m. (MT from this point on): Landed smoothly, Air is definitely a thing even for a non-athlete. It’s not terrible, but you feel it.

10:30 a.m. – This airport is absurdly big. Two escalator trips and a bullet train INSIDE to take you to different terminals.

10:40 a.m. – Uber into Tru Hotel Downton Convention Center Hotel about a half-hour from the airport. Really feels like driving through various rural parts of Massachusetts, still haven’t seen the Rocky Mountains yet, even flying over into the state.

10:39 a.m. – Dive by Coors Field. Really cool park, sucks for fans here that they’re terrible. That 2007 run was a lot of fun to watch until they ran into the Sox.

11:00 a.m. – Can’t check in until 3:00 p.m., valet the bags and decide to go take a stroll to check everything out. There’s a Billiards Bar directly across the street. Good start.

12:21 p.m. – I know there’s probably way better downtowns across the country, but Denver is awesome. So easy to navigate and just a ton of vibrance and various places to go whether it’s bars or stores. Stopped into this one little one – or so I thought and I unfortunately forget the name – that sold all sorts of Denver stuff. Hats, stuffed animals, knick-knacks, clothing, bows and arrows for kids (toy was obviously). Plenty of Avalanche, Broncos and Nuggets stuff too, some really cool hats. It looks small outside, but just kept going and going with more stuff. If you’re a weed person, really funny shirts and trinkets regarding the sticky.

12:31 p.m – Checked in early thankfully, nice room, not a crazy view but still pretty nice with some skyscrapers. I’m new to YouTube TV and loved that you could use it in the room. Nap, shower and a quick bite before heading out to the Patriots All Access Party.

4:30 p.m. – Uber over to Jackson’s Lodo roughly five minutes away. There’s a line of Pats fans down the street. It’s as close to Coors Field as The Cask is to Fenway. Can’t believe how big it is for a baseball park. Turns out their ‘fan fest’ was during the day, I found out too late and couldn’t go in. Was a big baseball guy as a kid, only real disappointment of the weekend was not doing that.

5:00 p.m. – Holy shit. It’s packed. Being 5’1″ on a good day was never conducive to fun bar bar experiences back in my 20s, but obviously I did it with buddies because it’s what you do. This took me right back to that trying to weasel my way through thousands (literally, close to 2,000 packed two floors of this place) wasn’t ideal. Shoutout to Sophie Weller of Pats Wire for telling me where the hell to go.

5:15 p.m. – Found my way to the front and got my first taste of how good it is to be a media member on the road sometimes. Went behind the guardrail to the side of the stage where Steve Burton, Dan Roche, Mike Reiss, David Andrews and Adam Vinatieri (legit all legends) were part of the All Access show. Mike ‘Sarge’ Riley (another legend in the making), Pat Patriot and some of the cheerleaders got the fans fired up during breaks as well.

5:23 p.m. – It hasn’t been nearly as hard as I thought to not be a bit star struck covering a lot of these players, probably because I just missed out on the Brady Years and nothing else would compare. But, seeing Vinatieri that close was probably my first childhood flashback, ‘wow’ moment with a member of the Pats. Didn’t get a chance to chat with him, but great to see him signing autographs, taking pictures and overall just being a part of this organization again. It’s long overdue.

6:00 p.m. – Couple beers and hung out with Brian Hines, Mike Kadlick, Taylor Kyles and Amit Bhattacharjee (all of CLNS). This is a great beat to be a part of, everyone gets along with everyone else.

9:00-10:31 p.m. Bar hopped from there until about 10:30 and had to call it. I’m too old to be out at bars anymore (wish I remembered that Sunday night…) and I was in bed sound asleep by 11:00 p.m. Just like Santa, AFC Championship Day can’t come unless you go to bed.

7:27 a.m. – Wake up and it’s a beautiful day in Mile High City. Really can’t believe I’m covering the Pats in an AFC title game today. I was in the stands for 2011 and 2012 and reflect a bit on watching all the other games with a Super Bowl berth on the line as a die hard fan. Truly thankful to be here.

8:00-8:20ish a.m.- Shower and wear the exact same ‘business casual’ outfit I have for the other playoff games. I can’t wear the Brady jersey anymore, but I can still be superstitious. Went downstairs for breakfast but the line was way too long, decide to just head in four hours early like I do at Gillette anyways.

8:43 a.m. – Uber ride was legit like five minutes from the stadium. So convenient. Such a cool area pulling around there and walking down to pickup my credentials. It’s quite an impressive stadium as soon as you first lay eyes on it. The parking lots are already rocking and (smartly), unlike back home, there’s plenty of places to get in and out.

9:01 a.m. – After a brief wait at the media tent I grab my credential, head through security and into the tunnel. Really trying to remind myself that this is all real.

9:16 a.m. – Make my way upstairs and into the press box. Legendary pictures of Bronco Hall of Famers and big franchise moments along the walls in their ENORMOUS press box, such a cool place. Find my assigned seat in section A3 next to Weller and Hines, Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed from the Boston Herald are a couple seats further down. Stunned I got a front row seat. Incredible view. Tarp is still on the field as it’s friggin freezing out.

9:53 a.m. – After getting set up and chatting with Chris Price of the Boston Globe (legend) and Butch Stearns (legend X10) – who was also celebrating a birthday – I make my way to the dining room. It’s not as big as Gillette’s but holy crap. The menu and grab-and-go options are remarkable: Quinoa salad, Cesar salad, garden salad, spicy chicken sandwiches, Colorado pork with green chili, carved bison (more on that in a few),pan seared chicken, roasted Brussels, Poblano cream sauce, garlic bread, carved NY strip, green beans, au gratin potatoes, wild mushroom sauce, nacho bar with chili con queso, smoked pork, pickled jalapeño, guacamole, sour cream, pico de Gallo, salsa, assorted cookies, NY cheesecake, various ice creams. That was all BEFORE THE GAME, Halftime: hot dogs and sausages with sauerkraut, peppers and onions, wings with buffalo, BBQ or ranch, soft pretzels and popcorn. Postgame: assorted wraps and power packs. Bravo staff, bravo.

10:06 a.m. – Taking it all in. Just a beautiful, beautiful stadium. I keep looking at the AFC Championship banners and logo on the field reminding myself again this is happening. Bison is friggin unbelievable. So tender and tasty.

11:00-12:30 p.m. – Pre-pregame warmups and then regular pregame warmups take place after eating and chatting with Evan Lazar of the Patriots and that same group I’ve mentioned, as we all express nerves and ideas on how things might play out.

12:35 p.m. – The Broncos pregame entertainment begins. The woman that rides the horse to lead the team out of the tunnel brings said horse out for like, 7-8 laps up and down the field before taking him back inside. Turns out he shits (pardon my language on this one, but you need the full effect) inside the halls. Found that out walking down around postgame press conferences…

12:40-12:50 p.m. – Denver has something (a countdown) called ‘The Climb’ which leads to ‘The Thunderstorm.’ Turns out the thunderstorm is parachuters absolutely FLYING into the stadium. Like, we were all absolutely stunned as they came blowing down past us out of nowhere after watching them on the scoreboard.

12:51 p.m. – Place is rocking and the press box is shaking, I often said during the playoffs that Gillette shook a couple times, but I clearly had no idea what another stadium looked and sounded like.

12:52 p.m. – Pats take the field to roars of boos. Broncos soon follow and just wow, what a cool scene with all the orange. This is what actual college atmospheres in big time stadiums must look and feel like every week.

12:57 p.m. – Phenomenal national anthem with giant flags: American, Colorado state flag and a smaller Broncos logo.

1:00 p.m. – Coin toss with Vinatieri and John Elway as the honorary captains alongside both team’s usual captains. Pats call tails and its tails. Vrabel defers.

1:03 p.m. – Kickoff. 60 minutes from covering the Pats earning a berth in the Super Bowl. Unreal. I obviously have to be locked in on social media and writing throughout the game, so I’m going to skip ahead. Before that though, I will say for the next three-ish hours my fandom truly returned. I went through those same nerves we all have over the years watching the team. Caught myself almost cheering or being to aggressive with mannerisms a few times. I couldn’t help it.

3:08 p.m. – I do remember thinking ‘this is so awesome’ as the snow started to come down just after halftime following my hot dog and wings. Little did I know it’d get even better. That third quarter drive to open the half should go down in franchise history as one of the more important ones, even if it ended in a field goal. It was the final points of the game and included a lucky replay call on the ugly tush push.

3:59 p.m. – Drake Maye’s iconic first down run seals the Super Bowl trip. Not being able to scream like I’m hammered with buddies again is SO damn hard. Can’t believe it’s happening. Also so happy I decided to film that 3rd-&-6 to have forever from my vantage point.

4:00 p.m. – Pats kneel. They’re AFC Champs. I’m going to my first Super Bowl (as long as credential request gets approved), holy shit.

4:15 p.m. – After a chaotic sprint downstairs where some of the staff had absolutely no idea where we had to go, a bunch of us find the locker room and camp outside to get video of pleasers coming in. Some others were lucky enough to get on the field, but these videos and live reactions are something I’ll always be able to remember too.

4:34 p.m. – Mike Vrabel steps to the podium. I covered Bill Belichick, Jerod Mayo and now Vrabel. This one (for me) feels so much different than any other.

4:45-5:25 p.m. – Spent the next hour in the locker room. This is probably what I’ll remember most. Growing up and then deciding I wanted to do this, I always said ‘being in a championship winning locker room would be the pinnacle for me,’ it’s not the Super Bowl, but damn this is awesome. Being able to have a good relationship with a lot of the guys and seeing how happy they were when I went up to congratulate and/or talk with them is burned in my mind for as long as I live.

5:53 p.m. – After another absolute hike back upstairs, it’s time to write the game story for our site. Still can’t believe this.

6:45 p.m. – Finally get out onto the field along with a few others to get a video/photos as the snow falls. Unreal.

7:45 p.m. – After finally finding where to get out, grab an Uber and head back to the hotel, still in disbelief.

8:45-10:15 p.m. – Watch NFL Network highlights in the hotel trying to process it all. Shower and then back out to the bars to celebrate.

10:15 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. – I haven’t taken shots since probably 2011. Not bright on my part, but went to a few really cool local places and saw Pats fans at all of them. So many Drake Maye jerseys. Went right to bed at about 1:00 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – Wake up and immediately can’t believe that was all real. Turn on the 98.5 The Sports Hub app for Zo and Bertrand to get the vibe back home.

10:10 a.m. – Super Bowl credential approval email arrives. Holy shit.

12:30 p.m. – After getting a scare about my flight being cancelled like so many others, find out it’s still on time. So, pack up, check out and Uber to the airport. FINALLY get an unbelievable view of the Rocky Mountains somehow. Driver has to stop for gas so I get a chance to get out and take some outstanding pics.

1:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Of course my first true solo trip ends with utter chaos. Four flight delays, three gate changes and two different trips to the same airport bar. Thankfully, I run into Mark Daniels of MassLive and Sam Knox from WPRI 12 in Providence and we grabbed some dinner and beers, praying we make the flight home. Great guys to kill time and suffer with. Getting updates from other reporters who are having nightmare stories as well.

8:16 p.m. – Finally board, Group C because I was an idiot and forgot to check in during the game. Turns out Ben Volin is on the flight too. Chat with him a bit (I know he gets a lot of crap but he’s been fantastic to me since I started, like everyone else). Somehow, I still get the same back row window seat despite boarding so late AND had an empty middle seat.

8:33 p.m. – Takeoff. Finally. Just gotta not have any diversions like other reporters have. No internet (at least it wasn’t working for me), so sleep off and on for the next three hours.

1:35 a.m. (back to ET from this point forward) – Landed. My buddy who flew home from Florida who flies a ton told me it was a top three worst landing of his life earlier before my flight. I have to imagine this one ranks in the ‘ya, that wasn’t great category,’ but we’re home.

1:45 a.m. – Plane door is frozen shut. Didn’t get off for about a half our.

2:15 a.m. – Checked my bag like an idiot and now have to wait. Figured I wouldn’t get any overhead space boarding in Group C. Rookie move.

2:30 a.m. – Uber demand is crazy and scarce on a Tuesday morning this early. Finally got one.

2:55 a.m. – Got stuck behind a line of plows and sanders through Watertown. Obviously at this point.

3:33 a.m. – Finally arrive back at my apartment in Waltham. Alarm is set for 8:30 to get my San Fran stuff booked. In bed and dead asleep by
3:45. What a friggin day and weekend.

So, that’s it. Truly an unforgettable experience and one that is now leading to what I hope will be the greatest week of my career and to this point, probably my life. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it.

We’re onto Sara Clara!